Klobucar's 44 Give Slovenia Double-Overtime Win Over Lithuania

Jaka Klobucar poured in 44 points as Slovenia proved more resilient in a 100-94 double-overtime shoot-out victory over Lithuania in the quarter final round of the Ostchem U20 European Championship.

Slovenia notched their second straight victory in Group E of the quarter-final round in Turkey.

They next face Serbia & Montenegro on Thursday.

Lithuania are now winless in two games and take on France next.

The Baltic giants scored eight unanswered points in the final 2:09 to force the first overtime. And Slovenia went on a 9-3 run in the final 2:07 of the first overtime session, before the teams combined for 34 points in the second overtime.

With Slovenia ahead 94-93 with 42 seconds left and Lithuania's top two scoring weapons fouled out, Vilmantas Dilys made just one of two free throws to even the game.

After Gasper Vidmar gave Slovenia a 96-94 lead, Aidas Viskontas missed both of his free throws with 16 seconds left. Klobucar was fouled and hit both shots from the line. And Dilys missed an inside lay-up with six seconds left before Vidmar finished the scoring with two free throws.

Lithuania never really had an answer for Klobucar, who hit eight three pointers and added 11 rebounds and three steals in 47 minutes of action.

Emir Preldzic who sat just 16 seconds of the 50-minute game, added a double-double of his own with 24 points and 11 rebounds as well as five assists and three steals.

The Lithuanians were paced by Martynas Pocius, who had 34 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Andrius Aleksandrovas added 23 points and eight rebounds.

But Pocius fouled out on an offensive foul with seven seconds remaining in the first overtime. And Aleksandrovas picked up his fifth foul with his team ahead 91-90 with 1:23 remaining in the second overtime.

Dilys had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Mantas Kalnietis added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Slovenia took better care of the ball, creating 21 turnovers to their 13.

But Lithuania held the Slovenians to 36.5% shooting.

Neither team could pull away early as the first quarter ended with Lithuania ahead 23-20. The Baltic nation was able to open a 10-point half-time lead, 42-32. But Slovenia cut that deficit to 54-51 after three periods.

Klobucar's three-pointer finished a 20-9 run as Slovenia pulled ahead 71-63 with just more than two minutes left in regulation.

Pocius scored six of Lithuania's eight points - including a steal and lay up and three-point play to make it 71-68 with 1:35 left.